The Impacts of Weather on Diving Conditions
October 30, 2024
The weather affects your safety in the water in various ways. You cannot control it, but you can get prepared. By understanding how the weather affects diving conditions, you can choose when to dive and when it is best not to. In this article, we delve into how the weather impacts diving and explore the safest conditions for scuba diving and freediving.
How Does the Weather Affect Diving Conditions?
Contrary to the perception of the ocean’s surface as a mere boundary, surface weather profoundly impacts the underwater environment. Weather elements such as wind, temperature, rain, storms, tides, and currents all impact divers. They affect visibility, water movement, and dive safety.
It makes sense to check the weather forecast before diving to ensure you have the right equipment and exposure gear for the diving conditions. If you are new to the area, discuss with local divers how the local weather forecast may affect your dive plans.
1.Tides and Currents
Tides and currents influence your dive in many ways. You may need to change the start and end point of your dive or do a boat dive where you are dropped and collected elsewhere. You should always carry safety devices such as a surface marker buoy and a surface signaling device, such as a whistle.
Above water, tidal fluctuations affect access to dive sites, exposing hazards during low tide and opening up new areas during high tide. Strong currents accompanying tidal changes can challenge surface navigation, potentially leading to divers drifting off course.
Below water, tidal currents stir up sediment, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of exhaustion if you are navigating against the current. Added to that, entrapment risks and hazards around underwater obstacles are heightened in strong currents.
Get prepared by planning your dive carefully, completing the SSI Perfect Buoyancy course, and choosing your dive site wisely. Also, make sure you use the buddy system, know your hand signals, and stay informed about local diving conditions.
2.Wind Speed and Direction
Wind does not just affect us outside the water or on the dive boat. High wind speeds can affect the water surface by creating large waves and strong surface currents. This can be an extra challenge for you as a diver and could lead to exertion, especially when entering or exiting the water.
It can also cause higher air consumption rates, especially if you need to wait at the surface for your dive group or the boat and need to keep your regulator in place. When boat diving, ensure you are aware of the procedure for being picked up in high waves. The guides will appreciate you listening to them as they are trying to keep you safe.
Onshore winds can push surface water away, which can cause nutrient-rich and colder water from below to upswell, altering water temperature and increasing marine life activity. Mild offshore winds can be a treat, facilitating easier entry and exit and resulting in calmer surface waters and enhanced visibility.
3.Water Temperature
Water temperature is critical for diver comfort and safety, with extreme temperatures (especially when ill-prepared) presenting risks such as hypothermia or dive equipment malfunction. Ensure you are aware of the water temperature and that you have the right exposure suit for that particular temperature. If in doubt, see what the locals use or discuss with a local dive center.
Bear in mind that some diving regulators are not made to be used in cold waters and can freeze up if you are not careful. Additionally, the air temperature affects your body temperature before and after your dive. Make sure you are diving in temperatures above 12°C / 54°F for safety and comfort unless you have specialized cold-water diving training.
4.Rain and Storms
While rain itself does not significantly impact diving conditions below the surface, and diving when there is rain above can be an otherworldly experience in itself, heavy rainfall can reduce underwater visibility by stirring up sediment.
If you are going to be diving in low visibility, make sure you are skilled in underwater navigation and enroll in the SSI Night Diving and Limited Visibility course.
Storms, including strong winds, rough seas, and lightning, pose greater risks. Shore diving with stormy seas can be a challenge, as can getting back on the boat after a dive. Heavy rain and low clouds can reduce surface visibility, making it easy to get disoriented and making it difficult for the boat captain and crew to find you.
Lightning strikes are particularly hazardous in the ocean due to seawater’s conductivity, making clear skies and a lack of lightning essential for safe diving.
What are the Ideal Diving Conditions?
The ideal diving conditions include clear skies, warm temperatures, high tides, and mild currents and winds. Keep an eye on the weather before you go diving to ensure your dive is successful and fun while minimizing risks. Stay safe and enjoy your dive!
Take control no matter the diving conditions. Join the SSI Waves, Tides and Currents specialty:
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This article was written by Elizabeth Langenberg / Tal Tamir in cooperation with our insurance partners at DiveAssure.